Get a Better Way to Work is the opportunity to get on the first steps to new career or even your own business. It is a scheme open to unemployed/under-employed people aged 18-30.

From January 2013 to May 2013 Recyke y’Bike, the Byker-based bicycle recycling charity, is running four consecutive sets of 5 week courses for up to six people per course at the Cycle Hub. This is supported by the European Social Fund and is free to participants.

Each course will provide 30 hours of training comprising two 3hr sessions per week. Training will cover bike mechanics, business skills and an introduction to safe cycling skills and leading cycle rides. There are planned to be 15 hours of Bike Mechanics, 8 hours of Cycle Training/ Leading and 7 hours of basic Business Start-up skills.

Bike Mechanics training, normally 2 hrs per session, will be to industry standard, recognised by the Bicycle Association, and accredited through the Weldtech scheme to Bronze, Silver or Gold standard. Each trainee will be as assessed by continuous assessment and multiple choice tests. The training will cover all the main components and systems of a bicycle leading to complete refurbishment of a bicycle which the trainee will be able to keep at the end of the training. Our experienced trainers are active bicycle mechanics qualified to Weldtech Platinum Standard.

Cycle training will commence half way through the course. Content will depend to an extent on the ability of trainees but will be based on the Bikeability National Standard methods up to Level 3. At the end of the 5 weeks trainees will go an long ride to celebrate the end of the course and act as an introduction to ride leading. Our trainers are fully qualified Bikeability cycle instructors used to training adults of all abilities.

Business skills training will follow on from the mechanics training, after a short break, for an hour to conclude 7 of the 3hr sessions. This will be led by Pete Pickard, Recyke y’Bike’s manager, formerly Head of Business Studies at Derwentside College. He will cover the basic steps needed to develop a Business Plan for Self-employment, covering marketing, financial and legal matters based on practical examples most relevant to the trainees own aspirations.

Sessions are timed to start 9:00am Tuesdays and Thursdays – 3 hours each day

To apply for a place please send your contact details to Recyke y’Bike using e-mail to recyke@blueyonder.co.uk or by post to address above. We will then arrange to meet with you.